This was an important game.

And the home team started well. Robert du Preez kicked two early penalties to give his team a six-point lead.

Both teams were struggling with their scrums, the pitch cutting up leading the referee Rasta Rasivhenge telling the players he was losing patience with all the resets and collapses.

Daniel du Preez was sent to the bin for a grass-cutter tackle and Joaquín Díaz Bonilla halved the deficit.

However, two minutes’ later, Van der Merwe broke through a driving maul, slipped a tackle and raced 25 metres – a massive distance for a prop – using his momentum, and the wet conditions, to slide over the whitewash.

Rob du Preez added the extras and the Sharks took a 10-point lead into the break.

Du Preez missed an early second-half penalty, keeping the game in the balance, but soon after, the hosts had their second five-pointer.

THE BUS IS FULL!

Van Wyk charged into the 22, bounced a defender and dotted down with two Jaguares players hanging off him.

It came from Andre Esterhuizen’s midfield break and pass, one of the few line-breaks by either side.

The game was still littered with handling errors and both teams struggled to dominate the contest.

With time running out, the visitors found their way over the whitewash.

Cancelliere chased a kick and won the race to the try-line.

It gave the South Americans hope. A slim hope, but hope nonetheless.

But it was only a tease because the hosts saw out the contest with some sturdy defending, not allowing their opponents any chance of a comeback.

Their reward: a trip to see the tournament’s greatest and most successful team. Good luck.